Invest in Africa confirms it is reviewing its sponsorship of Sunderland AFC following Paulo Di Canio appointment

Craig Gardner, Aidan Heavey, Ellis Short and David Miliband when the deal was announced

Current Sunderland shirt sponsor, Invest in Africa, has confirmed to The Drum it is reviewing its £20m a season sponsorship deal with the club.

Signed in 2012, the deal was originally for two years but was subsequently changed to a one-year deal with the option to extend.

Though it is being reported that the review is down to the controversial appointment of Paolo Di Canio, a spokesperson for the initiative explained that “the managerial changes at Sunderland AFC are a footballing matter ” adding that the review is “unrelated to events over the weekend”.

Since Di Canio’s appointment World War II Veterans have threatened to boycott games due to the new manager’s extreme views, with former foreign secretary David Milliband resigning from his seat on the club’s board over Di Canio’s “past political statements”.